Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.
Charity Selvey
I’ve loved planning events since the 7th grade when I planned my first surprise party for one of my teachers. The excitement of creating a space to celebrate brought me pure joy! I became the friend you would call to decorate. And those parties and celebrations always made me happy! So, I decided to make it official in 2020, and Demi Alexandra Events was born. Read more>>
Jayy Terrell
My story started in Acres Home where I attended Carver Magnet High for the arts and really fell in love with the arts. I got my BA from UTSA double major in English and Cultural Anthropology. After graduation, I did a brief stint teaching eighth grade English before stumbling into the coffee industry. I worked at several cafes around downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods. Read more>>
Crystal Roberts
Hey, I’m Crystal Roberts, and this is how photography found me. I actually picked up a camera back in high school, but I didn’t fall in love with it then. My teacher made it feel cold and technical, and I walked away thinking it just wasn’t my thing. Fast forward a few years… Read more>>
Erika Mandel
Six years ago, I took on my family’s now 50-year-old business, Creative Blinds, as a consulting client under my company, Leap Intuit. Within weeks, I realized I wasn’t just consulting- I was falling in love. What started as a project quickly became a calling. Read more>>
Ashley Brown
I started my music journey DJ turntables and making beats. I got into professional rapping in 2007. It started as something we did to pass time ended up being something that saved our and my life. Just continued. Read more>>
Dr Kevin Kelly
My love for math began in 8th grade with an inspiring algebra teacher who made numbers come alive. That spark grew into a lifelong passion for problem-solving and learning. I pursued a degree in Chemical Engineering, where I designed petrochemical plants using Lotus, and later transitioned to M&A modeling in business school. Read more>>
Javier Hearne
I’m born and raised in Houston. I picked up a camera firstly to start doing YouTube shorts and Day In the Life Content , and while being a broke college student, I decided to learn how to make money with my camera. Read more>>
Adam Rust
My wife and I worked for liberty mutual for over 8 years. I started as an intern with Liberty Mutual and worked under a Top producing agent. I was the number one agent in the world for liberty mutual multiple years in a row as well as in the top 3 agents out out of 45,000 employees every year I was there. Read more>>
SHAHID IQBAL
From an early age, I enjoyed being on stage and entertaining myself and others with acting and voice mimicry. Throughout school and college, even though I was studying sciences and business, I always found myself getting involved with creative activities every now and then. Soon that interest got me into acting opportunities in local theater and even some creative writing projects. Read more>>
Wendy Rodriguez
As soon as I finished esthetician school, I started brainstorming ideas for my own business. About a year later, in 2022, I took a leap of faith and began renting a small studio space in Downtown, Texas. I was surrounded by an amazing mentor and other estheticians who supported and motivated each other every single day. Read more>>
Mihai Vatca
My name is Mihai Vatca, and I was born in Deva, Romania, in the historic region of Transylvania. I began studying piano at the age of six and, over the years, took part in numerous competitions, masterclasses, and appearances on television and radio. Read more>>
Angel Price
I grew up in a family that didn’t always have much, and from an early age I learned the value of hard work, resilience, and looking out for others. Those lessons stayed with me and shaped the way I approach life and business. Read more>>
Cristan Steimel
I am a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Certified Care Manager. I graduated with honors from Lamar University with a Master of Education Degree in Counseling and Human Development. I have been working in the field of care management for over 15 years, specializing in children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities as well as chronic medical conditions. Read more>>
Rafael Sermeno
oh not at all haha! Being a business owner is never a smooth road. I believe the biggest struggle is to overcome fears along the way, the fear of hiring your first employee, the fear of investing money into an ad campaign etc I always say the road of a business owner is fill with walls of fear and every time you jump one there is a bigger one on the other side. You have to get used to the idea of being comfortable with the unknown, and yes there are some guidance and mentors on the way but mostly is figuring out as you go Read more>>
Omar Latif
Omar Latif is a young singer-songwriter based in Houston whose journey has been shaped by discipline, faith, and a deep love for meaningful music. At only 20 years old, he has already begun carving out a space for himself in a genre that blends spirituality, emotion, and storytelling. But Omar’s path didn’t start with a studio or a team behind him. Read more>>
Raoul Keddy
Raoul Keddy is a dynamic entrepreneur, public affairs specialist, and international business and affairs strategist. He is the Founder of Raked Intl LLC, where he has successfully developed strategic business plans, established global partnerships, and facilitated trade missions across Africa, the United States, Qatar, Dubai, China, and Europe. Read more>>
Daniel Guerra
I started making holsters back in 2019. Since then we’ve llc’d and moved into the firearms training business. Focusing on folks who are new to shooting sports or for defensive purposes. We now offer Texas license to carry, Permitless carry, basic pistol fundamentals, home defense tactics, stop the bleed and individual first aid kit bleeding solutions. Read more>>
Giang Nguyen
Dr. Veral Patel and I met in dental school at Tufts University in Boston. We became close friends pretty quickly, spending long nights studying, joking around to stay awake, and talking about what kind of dentists we wanted to be one day. Read more>>
Edgar Valdez
Our goal from the beginning was to incorporate physical therapy into the fitness world. With our background in physical therapy, we wanted to provide a unique experience where exercise could be implemented with a focus on functional training and longevity of the human body. Our team originally consisted of 3 contributors, but now we have expanded to a team of 6. Read more>>
Kelsee Pierre
I’m Kels (KelsTheDJ) a Houston,Texas based DJ and the owner of Nature’s Touch LLC, a cannabis and CBD brand currently undergoing a full rebrand. My DJIng skills centers on hip-hop, R&B, and now dancehall/reggae, genres that inspire connection, movement, and joy. Read more>>
Lloyd Daniel
When you meet Lloyd Daniel and Lida Thomas, the dynamic brother-and-sister duo behind The Daniel Team, one thing becomes clear right away — success runs in the family. Since 2012, they’ve been a trusted force in Fort Bend County, blending professionalism, integrity, and a deep commitment to their community. As Branch Manager, Lloyd leads with the steady confidence of a seasoned professional. Read more>>
Lisa O’Brien
I was adopted out as a baby should’ve been aborted, but raised by an Italian family in New York. I got to Texas as soon as I could became a registered nurse and I’ve done a whole lot of nursing and created a lot of business businesses in 30+ years. Raising teenagers can be difficult and very trying really teaches you how to pray. Read more>>
Tina Riddle
Husband-and-wife team David and Tina Riddle of Tomball, Texas, began their journey with The Breeder’s Assistant, an equine breeding school dedicated to teaching students from around the world how to successfully manage their own breeding programs. Their comprehensive curriculum included training in equine ultrasound, deep horn insemination, embryo transfer, stallion semen collection, as well as semen shipping and freezing. Read more>>
Ashley Shields
I started The Foxy Leopard Boutique because I’ve always loved bold fashion and the way a single accessory can completely transform an outfit. Over the years, I noticed that so many women around me wanted to stand out, but they didn’t always know where to find pieces that felt unique, confident, and full of personality. Read more>>
LaTanya ‘Nikki’ Miles
I actually got into this work unintentionally — but purposefully aligned. Back in 2011, I was laid off from the oil & gas industry. At the time, it felt like a setback. But looking back, it was really a redirection. Read more>>
Kaitlyn Anderson
How much time do you have? Lol. My journey has been all over the place throughout my twenties and thank goodness because it’s led me to where I am today and I love what I’m building. I graduated with my BSN, RN degree and started out my early twenties working at Metropolitan Med Spa by the galleria as a Nurse Injector. Read more>>
Rachel Gardner
Growing up as a competitive soccer player, most of my time was spent on the field — in practices, tournaments, and traveling for games. Yet even then, I was always drawn to creating. I loved working with my dad out in the garage, painting scraps of wood and building things with my hands. Read more>>
Lawrence Willis
You know, my story’s not a straight line. I started out as a cop — ten years with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office. Back then, my focus was on protecting people. Making sure they made it home safe. But over time, I realized something: I was helping people survive day to day… not necessarily build a better future. Read more>>
Amanda Migues
I fell in love with photography at the age of 12. In junior high I wasn’t the best athlete or a great musician. But I had the ability to see people and the world around me, like art. And being able to capture that and share it with others…that was magical. I spent 9 years working in special education and taught in Katy ISD. Read more>>
Nicole Bankhead
I’ve always been someone who pays attention to what’s happening beneath the surface—what people feel but don’t always have words for. I became a therapist because I wanted people to feel genuinely understood and safe to be themselves. Early in my career, I noticed that while talk therapy could bring insight, it didn’t always create the deeper, embodied change people were seeking. Read more>>
Rachel May
My career in wedding planning didn’t begin with a business plan or a goal sheet; it began by happenstance, while planning my own wedding. I quickly discovered that I didn’t just enjoy the process—I was truly captivated by it. Every vendor meeting, every tiny detail, and every discovery about the inner workings of the industry was genuinely exciting. Read more>>
Mark Brown
Our story has two parts to it. On my wife’s side (Jessica Alcalá), she is an elite track cyclist who has represented Venezuela in international competitions, including PanAmerican championships in 2024. She started cycling here in Houston 3 years ago and is an independent athlete (no sponsors or affiliations other than the Venezuelan Federation, which doesn’t offer financial support). Read more>>
Steve Turner
I’ve always believed that kindness is a powerful force. Growing up in Texas, I was surrounded by people who lived with generosity and grit, and that shaped how I saw the world. After serving as an Army Ranger and deploying to Afghanistan, I returned home with a deeper appreciation for community and the simple things—like a good cup of coffee shared with a friend. Read more>>
Mya James
I was a teen Mom. Even though I had a very supportive family I wanted to be a great example for my son and be able to support myself. This lead me to finishing school early and learning a vocation, I chose Cosmetology. So in the early 2000’s I was the hairstylist. Long days and nights in the salon paid off, I earned very well. Read more>>
Kathleen Maca
After over 20 years in the advertising industry (as a writer, media buyer and broadcast executive), I refocused my energy on writing. I ‘dipped my toe’ back into the public writing world by writing articles for several national magazines. I also began being a contributing feature writer about Galveston’s colorful history in 2011 for Galveston Monthly, and am happily still contributing to that publication. Read more>>
